The Metropolis Division of Transportation (DOT) reported that subsequent Monday at 9 pm half of the Brooklyn bridge will probably be closed to vehicular visitors, to start out that night time on the building of protected lanes for bikes, that are anticipated to be accomplished within the fall. This would be the first reconfiguration of the enduring bridge for the reason that tram tracks have been completely eliminated in 1950
Mayor Invoice de Blasio indicated that on this approach the present congestion that’s registered within the ‘promenade’, the bridge highway that’s utilized by pedestrians and cyclists on the similar time, will probably be eradicated.
“‘Bridges for the Folks’ it’s a stupendous reinvention of New York Metropolis’s most iconic bridge, “stated the Mayor, including that earlier than the Brooklyn Bridge was final reconfigured in 1950, it” carried 400,000 New Yorkers on daily basis, however the full substitute of the tram by automotive lanes lowered the quantity of each day customers of the bridge by greater than half. By including new protected bike lanes to the bridge, we’ll lastly start to rebalance that equation, supporting extra sustainable transportation for many years to return. “
Final January, throughout his speech on el State of the Metropolis, the Mayor promised the creation of these lanes, and different 30 miles of protected bike paths in 2021, to deal with the rise in bicycle use through the pandemic all through New York Metropolis.
As half of the challenge, the innermost vehicular lane certain for Manhattan within the Brooklyn bridge it is going to be eliminated and reworked right into a protected two-way bike lane. The DOT has warned motorists who usually entry the bridge from downtown Brooklyn that they might have to regulate their journey patterns each throughout and after building. Beginning Monday night time, a proper flip from Tillary Avenue heading west towards the Brooklyn Bridge will now not be allowed.
“The Brooklyn Bridge, one of probably the most beloved constructions within the nation, will have fun its 138th anniversary this 12 months“, Recalled the DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “All through that lengthy historical past, the bridge has modified with the instances, as horse-drawn carriages have been changed by trams, which have been later retired with the appearance of automotive lanes. Within the coming months, we’ll as soon as once more rework this bridge that all of us love, this time with new bike lanes that spend money on the bridge’s extra sustainable future ”.
“The Brooklyn Bridge is used each day by 1000’s of New Yorkers and vacationers touring to and from Manhattan. This initiative will hold each pedestrians and cyclists safer by putting in a protected two-way bike lane for cyclists whereas increasing the bridge walkway for pedestrians ”, stated the president of the Metropolis Council Transportation Committee Councilor Ydanis Rodríguez.
In the meantime, the Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, representing Brooklyn, stated that many New Yorkers “use the Brooklyn Bridge on daily basis to get to work, and when the pandemic began that quantity elevated, and lots of began using bikes as a strategy to train and get on the air. free whereas sustaining social distancing pointers. With the rise in cyclists within the metropolis, it’s important that we offer extra protected bike lanes for added security. “
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